Paper counter



Jan. 23, 1968 E. M. HUNTER PAPER COUNTER Filed June a, 1964 2Sheets-Sheet l I I I IIII||| R m G EME f WVIA T R A T H R U D C N C T PNEU HA T UDO 8 WM U Q f mm D f mm M mwN Cm N Iv SM L TEU ITHA A mn- DmQWM VI I. 9 4 G 4 ^,o ..D. WM HRR.. W. A m H R T.' n .M N E U WC M M U LIIL TIIIL ,||I|I|||Il|||||||||| v R R G 2 3 R O O 2 O mm 2 mm mm 2r D rmm T L f A N C R N S R A l W U T M A E E O C S. G II|.I|II IIIIII IIL OI w m v F Cr i FIG. l

FROM GATED BINARY COUNTER OSOILLATOR I (40 i s F F O s R R FROM RESETGENERATOR 23 L swVTcHlNG MATRIX 44 l f swlTcH CONTROL Jan.23,1968 AEMHUNTER 3,365,569

i PAPER COUNTER 4 Filed Jun 8, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TO RESET GENERATOR23 FIG. 2

United States Patent lice 3,365,569 PAPER CUN'IER Edward M. Hunter,Fresh Meadows, N.Y., assgnor to Haaeltine Research, Inc., a corporationof Illinois Filed .lune 8, 1964, Ser. No. 373,197 4 Claims. (Cl. 23S-92) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for counting sheets of paperarranged in stacks and for determining when a specified number of sheetshave been counted. Each stack is detected and a signal representative ofthe stack enables a pulse generator which produces a pulse correspondingto each sheet of paper. The output of the pulse generator is coupled toa binary counter and associated matrix which determines when the numberof pulses corresponding to the number of sheets in a stack is producedand causes a reset pulse to disable the pulse generator until the nextstack is detected. The gated oscillator is also coupled to a decadecounter which counts the total number of pulses produced or determineswhen the number of sheets that comprise a batch have been counted.

This invention is concerned with a counter for counting articles, suchas sheets of paper, arranged in stacks and emanating from a source.

When paper is processed, for whatever use, there is usually some pointin the process in which the paper is cut from rolls into sheets. lt isessential to have an accurate count of the sheets cut. Frequently thepaper from several rolls is fed to the cutter at the same time, therebyallowing the cutter to cut several rolls at once. The cut paper willemanate from the cutter in stacks, the number of sheets in each stackbeing equal to the number of rolls feeding the cutter. By ordinarydetection means, such as a photocell, only the stacks of paper can bedetected, not the individual sheets of paper in each stack, Therefore,to provide an accurate count of the sheets cut the detected output ofthe cutter must be multiplied by the number of sheets in each stack.Prior multipliers of the type that can be used in a paper counter havenot been entirely satisfactory in that they have not provided acompletely accurate and dependable count or they have required costlyspecial tubes or they have suffered other defects.

lt is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a newand improved counter for paper or other articles.

lt is a further object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved paper counter for counting sheets of paper arranged in stacks.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a newand improved pulse multiplier.

In accordance with the present invention a counter for determining thetotal number of articles that pass a given point, the articles beingarranged in stacks with a known number of articles in each stackcomprises means for detecting each stack of articles and generating asignal representative of each stack. The invention further comprisesgated means for producing pulses each of which is representative of anarticle and means for rendering the gated means operative upon theapplication of each signal representative of a stack of articles andmeans for determining when the number of pulses that corresponds to thenumber of articles in a stack has been produced. The apparatus alsocomprises means responsive to the determinative means for generating asignal to render the gated means inoperative, when Vthe number of pulsesthat corresponds to the number of articles in a stack has been Cil3,365,569 Patented Jan. 23, 1968 produced and a counting circuit forcounting the total number of pulses produced by the gated means, thetotal number of pulses being equal to the number of stacks detected,multiplied by the number of articles in each stack.

For a better understanding of the present invention together with otherand further objects thereof, reference is had to the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and itsscope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram representation of one embodiment of a papercounter constructed in accordance with the present invention, and

FIG. 2 is a block diagram representation of a binary counter switchingmatrix and AND circuit of use in the FIG. l embodiment.

Description of FIG. I counter In FIG. l of the drawings there is shown apaper counter for determining the total number of sheets of paper thatpass a given point, the sheets being arranged in stacks with a variableknown number of sheets in each stack, and for dividing the countedsheets into batches of known quantity. For example, it might be desiredto provide a continuous count of the number of sheets cut and thenprovide an indication that a batch of say ve hundred has been cut. Asillustrated, the paper counter comprises means for detecting each stackof paper and for generating a signal representative of each stack, shownas light source 15 operating in conjunction with photocell 16. The lightsource 15 and photocell 16 are so arranged that each stack of paper mustpass between them. The light supplied to the photocell 16 by source 15is thereby interrupted and reapplied when the stack of papers is passedcompletely between them, generating a signal representative of thatstack. The paper counter also includes gated means for producing pulseseach of which is representative of a sheet of paper, shown as gatedoscillator 17 Oscillator 17 is constructed to produce only halfcycleoutputs, each half-cyle output representing a sheet of paper.

The system further comprises a bistable device for rendering the gatedoscillator 17 oscillatory upon the application of each signal generatedby the photocell 16 and nonoscillatory upon the application of a resetsignal, shown as tiip-ilop 1S. Flip-flop 18 could be any bistabledevice, such as a bistable multivibrator, a relay, or any similardevice.

The counter further comprises means 19 for determining when the numberof pulses that corresponds to the number of sheets in a stack has beenproduced. As shown, determinative means 19 includes binary counter 20for ,counting the pulses produced by the gated oscillator 17.

In a practical system this would normally be a four stage binarycounter, yas there would generally be no more than fifteen rolls ofpaper feeding the cutter 14. Determinative means 19 also includes firstswitching matrix 21 for permitting the selection of the desired outputof the gated oscillator 17. Determinative means 19 also includes ANDcircuit 22 for ydetermining when the value selected by the firstswitching matrix 21 is equal to the value in the binary counter 20. Thebinary counter 20, the switching matrix 2l. Iand AND circuit 22 willsubsequently be explained in greater detail.

The system further includes rst means responsive to AND circuit 22 forgenerating a reset signal when the number of pulses that corresponds tothe number of sheets in a stack has been produced, shown as resetgenerator 23. This reset generator 23 can be any device that provides apulse output suitable for resetting the iiip-ilop 18 and the binarycounter 20.

The system also includes a counting circuit for counting the totalnumber of pulses produced by the gated oscillator 17, shown as decadecounter 24. As shown, the decade counter 24 is actually composed ofthree-decade stages, the units decade counter 25, the tens decadecounter 26, and the hundreds decade counter 27. Additional stages couldbe added as required to achieve the desired count. These counters arecapable of being reset when the pulses that correspond to the desirednumber of sheets in a batch have been produced. It should be noted thatbinary counter 2t) counts the pulses that represent the number of sheetsin a stack, while decade counter 24 counts the pulses that represent thenumber of sheets in a batch.

The system also includes a second adjustable matrix for permitting theselection of the quantity of sheets that are to comprise a batch, shownas switching matrix 28. As shown, the switching matrix 28 actuallyconsists of three separate switching units 29, 30 and 31, onecorresponding to each of the decade stages of the counting circuit 24.Each of these switching units is exactly the same as the first switchingmatrix 21 and also includes an AND circuit wliich performs the samefunction as AND circuit 22. Each switch can be adjusted so that anoperator can select the units, tens and hundreds components of thedesired number of sheets that are to comprise a batch.

The system also includes a second comparison circuit for determiningwhen the selected batch quantity is equal to the quantity indicated bythe counting circuit 24, such as AND circuit 32. AND circuit 32 has aconnection to each switching unit `and only produces an output when thecounters contain the selected number.

The system also includes a second reset generator 33 responsive to ANDcircuit 32 for generating a reset signal that indicates that a number ofsheets sufficient to cornprise a batch have been counted. Structurally,reset generator 33 can be of the same type as first reset generator 23.The function of reset generator 33 is to provide a signal for resettingdecade counters 25, 26 and 27, to advance the batch counter 34 oneposition and to provide or control the production of an output signalwhich is to be used to control the separation of the batches and performany other desired function. In the embodiment shown the reset generatortriggers the relay 35 for the period of the reset pulse. In this manneran output signal is provided for a period of time sutiicient to controlthe separation of the batches and perform any other desired function.This signal can be used to alert an operator, to activate a mechanism orin any other manner to achieve the desired separation of batches.

Description of FIG. 2

FIG. 2 is a more detailed description of binary counter 20, switchmatrix 21 and AND circuit 22. Gated oscillator 17 has been renderedoscillatory by the input from the photocell 16 triggering flip-flop 18.The pulse outputs of the gated oscillator 17 are coupled to iiip-op 4t),the first stage of counter 21. As the count advances, the pulses coupledto hip-flop 4() cause iiip-tlops 4t), 41, 42 and 43, that comprisecounter 21, to be placed in the state that corresponds to the number ofpulses produced. The switch control 44 of switching matrix 21 ismanually placed in the position that corresponds to the number of sheetsknown to be in each stack, thereby causing the four wipers 4S, 46, 47and 48 of the switch 21 to be placed in the proper position. Forexample, if there are ten rolls of paper feeding the cutter, the switchcontrol is adjusted for the number ten, causing the wipers 45, 46, 47and 48 to be placed in the position shown in FIG. 2. When the counter 21has counted ten pulses and only when it has counted ten pulses, therewill `be a logical one applied from each wiper to AND circuit 22 therebycausing an output to be coupled to the reset generator '23. A resetpulse is generated which resets ip-ilop 18 rendering gated oscillator 17nonoscillatory and resets the counter 21 to await the next series ofpulses.

M ode of operation As explained above, a paper counter of this type canbe used for counting sheets of paper simultaneously cut by a papercutter 14 from a plurality of rolls of paper 13. After being cut thepaper is usually fed down a conveyer where the stacks of paper will tendto spread out. Somewhere along the length of this conveyor the lightsource 15 and photocell 16 are placed on opposite sides of a portion ofthe conveyor so that the light from the light source 15 is directed atthe photocell 16. When a stack of papers passes between the light source15 and the photocell 16 the light to the photocell 16 is interruptedthereby generating a signal representative of a stack of papers. Thissignal is coupled to flip-flop 18 placing it in the set condition.Flip-Hop 18 being in the set condition causes gated oscillator 17 tooscillate producing half-cycle oscillations or pulses. Each of thesepulses, representing a single sheet of paper, is coupled to the decadecounter 24 to be counted. At the same time these pulses are also coupledto the binary counter 20. As previously explained, when the pulsesproduced, as determined by the binary counter 20, equal to the number ofsheets in a stack, as determined by switching matrix 21, an output iscoupled from AND circuit 22 to reset generator 23. A reset pulse isgenerated which resets the flip-op 18 thereby cutting off the oscillatorand resets the binary counter 20 until the next stack of papers isdetected. Therefore, in effect, the number of stacks of paper iseffectively multiplied by the number of sheets in each stack.

The output of the gated oscillator 17 coupled to the decade counter 24causes the counter 24 to advance one position -for each pulse produced.These counters are of a standard type. When the rst stage 25 reaches acount of ten it resets itself and the overliow is coupled to the secondstage 26 advancing it one position. The same process is repeated betweenthe second and third stages so that a true decimal number is counted bythis decade arrangement. Higher numbers can be counted by adding moredecade stages.

Corresponding to each decade stage are switching matrix and AND circuitsof the same type as shown in FIG. 2. The number of sheets that are tocomprise a batch is selected by rotating each of these switches to theproper position. When each stage of the decade counter 24 contains thenumber selected, as determined by the switching matrix 28, an output isproduced from AND circuit 32. This output is coupled to reset generator33 where a reset pulse is produced. This reset pulse performs severalfunctions. It resets the decade counter 24 to zero so that the counterwill count out a new batch of papers. It can be coupled out to the papercutter 14 to alert an operator or to actually control the separation ofthe batches. In the embodiment of FIG. l it is assumed that there arepower requirements of this control signal which the reset pulse cannotsupply so that the reset pulse is coupled to relay 35 which will providean output of the desired level. If an output of duration other than theduration of the reset pulse is desired an intermediate timing stage isadded. The reset pulse is also coupled to batch counter 34 to advancethis counter one position each time a new batch of papers is counted.The number of batches will be equal to the total number of sheetscounted divided by the number of sheets in each batch.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be thepreferred embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modications may be madetherein without departing from the invention and it is, therefore, aimedto cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A counter for determining the total number of articles that pass agiven point, said articles being arranged in stacks with a known numberof articles in each stack, comprising:

means for detecting each stack of articles and generating a signalrepresentative of each stack;

gated means for producing pulses each of which is representative of anarticle;

means for rendering said gated means operative upon the application ofeach signal representative of a stack of articles;

means for determining when the number of pulses that corresponds to thenumber of articles in a stack has been produced;

means responsive to said determinative means for generating a signal torender said gated means inoperative, when the number of pulses thatcorresponds to the number of articles in a stack has been produced;

and a counting circuit for counting the total number of pulses producedby said gated means, the total number of pulses being equal to thenumber of stacks detected, multiplied by the number of articles in eachstack.

2. A counter as specied in claim 1 wherein the known number of sheets ineach stack can be varied and wherein the means for determining when thenumber of pulses that corresponds to the number of sheets in a stack hasbeen produced is adjustable.

3. A paper counter for determining the total number of sheets that passa given point, said sheets being arranged in stacks with a variableknown number of sheets in each stack, and for providing a signalindicating that the number of sheets that comprise a batch have beencounted, comprising:

a light source and photocell arranged in spatial alignment so that eachstack of sheets of paper passes between said light source and photocellgenerating signals individually representative of each stack;

a gated oscillator for producing pulses each of which is representativeof a sheet of paper;

a bistable device for rendering said gated oscillator oscillatory uponthe application of each signal generated by said photocell andnonoscillatory upon the application of a reset signal;

a binary counter for counting the pulses produced by said gatedoscillator which is resettable when the pulses that correspond to thenumber of sheets in a stack have been produced;

a rst adjustable matrix for selecting the desired output of the gatedoscillator;

a tirst comparison circuit for determining when the value selected bysaid first matrix is equal to the value in the binary counter;

a first reset generator responsive to said comparison circuit forgenerating a `reset signal when the number of pulses that corresponds tothe number of sheets in a stack has been produced, said reset signalsuitable for resetting said bistable device and said binary counter;

a decade counter for counting the total number of pulses produced bysaid gated oscillator, which is resettable when the pulses thatcorrespond to the desired number of sheets in a stack have beenproduced;

a second adjustable matrix for selecting the quantity of sheets that areto comprise a batch;

a second comparison circuit for determining when the selected quantityis equal to the quantity indicated by said counting circuit;

a second reset generator responsive to said comparison circuit forgenerating a signal indicating the sheets that comprise a batch havebeen counted, said signal being coupled back to reset the decade circuitto zero, being used to advance a batch counter one position and alsobeing available as an output signal for use in the separation ofbatches.

4. A counter for determining the total number of sheets of paper thatpass a given point, said sheets being arranged in stacks with a knownnumber of sheets in each stack and for providing a signal indicatingthat the number of sheets that comprise a batch have been counted;comprising:

means for detecting each stack of sheets of paper and generating asignal representative of each stack;

gated means for producing pulses each of which is representative of asheet ot paper;

means for rendering said gated means operative upon the application ofeach signal representative of a Stack of sheets of paper;

means for determining when the number of pulses that corresponds to thenumber of sheets in a stack has been produced;

means responsive to said determinative means for generating a signal torender said gated means inoperative, when the number of pulses thatcorresponds to the number of sheets in a stack has been produced;

a counting circuit for counting the total number of pulses produced bysaid gated means, the total number of pulses being equal to the numberof stacks detected, multiplied by the number of sheets in each stack;

means for permitting the quantity of sheets that are to comprise a batchto be selected;

a comparison circuit for determining when the selected quantity is equalto the quantity indicated by said counting circuit;

and means responsive to said comparison circuit for generating a signalindicating the sheets that comprise a batch have been counted, saidsignal being coupled back to reset the counting circuit to zero, beingused to advance a batch counter one position, and also being availableas an output signal for use in the separation of batches.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,567,422 9/ 1951 Camp 235922,997,234 8/1961 Hughes 23S-92 3,272,970 9/ 1966 Laycak 235-92 MAYNARDR. WILBUR Primary Examiner, G. J, MAlER, Assistant Examiner`

